Electroforming: Can You Silver-Plating Delicate Objects?

Question
is it possible to dip a feather or a leaf in silver? if so, do i coat it with any substance, will it be very fragile?
Thank you

Answer
You may have seen leaves, and other things advertised as dipped in  a precious metal. If you were to  try this the organic form would melt in the molten temperatures of the given metal you wish to use. The process you  see is a type of electroforming. A copy of the item is made in a variety of  substrates like styrofoam, wax, plasticized waxes, etc. and then  places in an electrolytic bath with current runnig through it and the metal of choice is  suspended in the bath  by a clip. The metal is then deposited onto the form and the result is an exact copy of the  item you wanted metallicised.
It is  not wiorth the investment or  time to learn the process for a one time  project. Many jewelers can  do this for you. Look in your telephone book under electroforming, or  jewelers and  pick an independent jewelr - not a chain like Zales, Jared, etc. they can  wither  assist you or refer to another jeweler in the area that is set up for  the process.